Worcester 33 -10 Knights

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Worcester Warriors 33
Doncaster Knights 10

Friday night at Sixways Stadium saw Doncaster Knights compete a game that could be described perfectly as a game of two halves. After the Knights took a 10-0 lead into the break the home side ran in five second half tries in the second half to seal the win.
Ali Warnock got the game started, kicking towards the vacant North Stand & it was the home side that got off to the better start. On a couple of occasions in the first quarter of an hour Worcester enjoyed plenty of possession in the Knights half but were met by a strong defence not allowing anything through. The right on twenty minutes Stevie McColl intercepted a pass on his own 22 and ran the length of the field to score. The Knights were beginning to take the attack to the home side and after winning a line out deep in Worcester’s 22 young lock Glen Townson powered his way over for a try. James Brooks, playing centre on the night couldn’t add the conversions. Winger Andy Wright almost scored a third try for the Knights as he nearly made it around his opposite number after a flowing move before being caught at the last second. Worcester enjoyed a good share of possession as the half was coming to a close but after a great break from Rico Gear they were unable to capitalise as not for the first time in the half the Knights pack forced the error.

In the first minute of the Knights continued to upset Worcester as they caught them holding right from the kick off. Sadly the half wasn’t to continue in the same vein as captain Dale Rasmussen broke through the line to score under the posts. Miles Benjamin was the next man to score after the ball was fed along the line at real pace from the base of a scrum. On the hour mark Worcester brought on several first team players including Chris Latham, and after being camped on the Knights line for a couple of minutes Ollie Frost went over breaking away from a scrum. Willie Walker added the first of three conversions. Despite conceding the tries the Knights continued to play some flowing rugby but unfortunately were punished as Dougie Flockhart failed to get any distance on his kick and Greg Rawlinson ran in another. The home finished off the scoring in the final minute as Tom Wood collected a cross field kick from Walker to score out wide. Walker added the conversion to delight of the Worcester fans who were out in good force for their first friendly.
Teams:
Worcester: Calum MacRae, Rico Gear, George Dixon, Dale Rasmussen, Charlie Fellows, Joe Carlisle, Jonny Arr, Jack Gilding, Chris Fortey, Shaun Ruwers, David Lyons, Craig Gillies, Graham Kitchener, James Collins, James Freeman.
Replacements: Adam Black, Willie Walker, Aleki Lutui, Miles Benjamin, Tevita Taumoepeau, Alex Grove, Greg Rawlinson, Sam Tuitupou, Matt Cox, Marcel Garvey, Tom Wood, Chris Latham, Ollie Frost, Ed Binham.
Doncaster: Roger Davies, Dougie Flockhart, Stephen McColl, James Brooks, Andy Wright, Stuart Corsar, Steve Boden, Ngalu Tau, Glen Townson, Dan Smith, Bryn Griffiths, Neil Cochrane, Andy Boyde.
Replacements: Lewis Thiede, Nicky Griffiths, Steven Lawrie, Chris Planchant, Tom Doughty, Simong Grainger, Tom Davies, Glen Kenworthy, Toma Toke, Will Du Rant.
Report by James Oliver.